Personal blogging lesson time. But first – welcome to a new installment of Twisted Tuesdays. I started them two years ago. Two whole years ago – WOW.
Jeepers, creepers, my how time flies as a personal blogger. Who, by the way, still has no idea what the hell they’re doing …
Except for failing fairly miserably at the simple task at hand of being a personal blogger who writes passionately each and every randomly glorious morning. (Note to self, use of too many adverbs is a sure-fire way to show you’re not a confident writer, right?).
(Insert pity party face) But, dear Shelley, don’t cry, don’t feel bad, blogging isn’t easy.
Nope, it isn’t.
Especially, for me, right now. The whole mess the world is in, just makes me feel like screaming. I feel so two-faced at times.
And when I think, “Just write something fun or something sweet or kind”, I shame myself into thinking, “That’s wrong, you can’t be sharing happy sh*t when the world says we should be scared and unhappy, ‘cuz the virus is lurking in the background.”
All I want is to take a decent shot at blogging. Then the rules get all blurry as I try to focus on one aspect or another.
I feel like I don’t fit into the perfect blogging box – if such a thing exists?
I feel claustrophobic, frustrated, and dying to bite someone’s head off.
As in the effing wood tick that bit me in the forehead in the middle of the night.
I felt it moving on my forehead, it woke me up from my sleep when I touched it, and I realized it wasn’t my hair tickling me. The moving bump was stuck. Then that feeling on my finger connected with a childhood memory of the tick patch I walked into and found them crawling all over myself. YUCK!
I bolted out of bed while I yanked it off my forehead. I walked to the kitchen where I did the ritual burning of the damn thing. I love the sound they make when they pop. Feeling all superior, I kept it and set it on the counter to show Mr. the next morning. Don’t judge.
On a side note, as I’m ranting here, I bet you’re dying to know what I’m drinking? No, it’s not wine. Although, I do like wine. Nah, it’s morning time, and I’m drinking my new favorite potion.
Okay, where was I?
Oh yeah, telling you how to be an unsuccessful blogger.
On second thought, personal blogging is easy if you can figure out nuances and not throw too many techniques at it at once. ‘Cuz if you don’t, before you know it, you’re drowning in a state of dismay. You realize it when it makes you feel like a failure.
3 things have I tried that failed over the years:
- Random posting. Duh, I know from my blog stats that the best responses from readers (aka, random followers, which if that’s you, please know I adore you) are on Sundays at 9:00 am. So why the hell do a post on a random Tuesday? Because I’m in a twisted mood, that’s why. Will this post be successful? Hell no. But, I’m in another mood to rant, so it’s okay to break my own self-imposed rules. Lately, I stick to weekends. Unless something triggers me to write at other times. Like TODAY!
- 30-day challenges. I stopped joining them after I got into a groove of writing every day. What I found is that they’re fun, but a lot of work. And I noticed that writing every day didn’t let my previous post get a chance to work its magic on readers. LOL – I’m such a comedian on Twisted Tuesdays.
- Wrote and orchestrated my own 30-day blogging challenge. That was fun. From the beginning to the end of it, I learned some things. (30-day blogging challenge – how to find your writing style). It gave me a full-time job, made me feel like a professional blogger who only has part-time availability. That month, I met one of my favorite fellow bloggers I adore, who joined me in on the challenge. She still stops by on my blog occasionally to read my posts, and I do the same for her. Unfortunately, as I’ve also discovered along the way of blogging unsuccessfully is that we bloggers go on our merry way when we find someone new to chat with. Because it’s hard to keep up with every follower or commenter you meet here in the blogosphere. I also learned that newbie bloggers don’t magically get discovered when they initiate a 30-day challenge.
I’m wiser because of things I’ve learned. – Me
After all these years, I’m still little old me. Who has found great blogging friends along the way. Many who have granted much patience with me and my rants.
They’ve endured the incredibly random management of my blog and comments shared and my lackadaisical reciprocal reads and comments on their blogs too. Sorry!
I try.
And I do hope those who visit here love the photos that I share. Those I think have definitely mostly gotten better with practice over the years.
So there. Here I am – still learning as I grow.
And still showing up – randomly.
PS – Thank you for your support, I do adore hearing from you! (Hint, hint, that’s where you say something random now) 🙂
Your photos are always a delight, and I enjoy your writing. Not sure I’d enjoy what you’re drinking but, you know, two out of three 🙂
LOL – thanks, Dan, your comment brought a smile to my face! Ditto to you and your blog!
I love your photos. 😃 And I HATE having any kind of bug on me IN MY BED. Before we moved, I had a stink bug drop onto me while reading one night. You’d have thought I was being stabbed. I read a long article about stink bugs in the New Yorker, and apparently they’re here to stay, PLUS once you see one, there are always more in your house. UGH. We found random dead ones around before we moved. And the only one DH claims to have seen here in the new house is outside on the window. I looked at it from inside and wasn’t convinced it was actually a stink bug, but I had no intention of opening that window to grab it and find out. #lifeinthecountry #ha
Well now I’m going to have to go and look up what a stink bug looks like.
They don’t really do anything sinister…they’re just creepy. They’re slow moving and quite easy to catch. But if you crush them, they stink – thus the name. I always flush them.
Thank you, Laurel!! I think Copper’s tick medication works so well the ticks just hang on for a ride inside. I’ve found one crawling on the wall in my office too. Who knows, maybe I picked it up when I was in the garden. However it got there I was NOT happy!
We have the stink bugs later in the fall. So far they’ve always been on the outside of the house. I hate those and the small beetles and the nasty bugs that eat my flowers. I’d freak out if any one of them dropped on my book while I was reading. YIKES! I agree, such is life in the country! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I hope you’re settling into your home well. I bet you’ve got everything all organized. With my current lack of desire to put too much effort into cleaning, etc., I’d need to move in order to get organized again! LOL!
Wait! We’re NOT supposed to be random? LOL. I never had thoughts of blog gradness…it’s turned into more of a journal for me. I actually have used it to look up when we did something. Husband says something like “when we were in Alabama last year,” and I can prove that we haven’t been to Alabama for two years this past July, just by checking the blog. See? A memoir of sorts! And other people get to come along on my incredibly not exciting life if they like. Or not. Either way I enjoy putting thoughts down. And like you, my photos have gotten better over time!
See? We are NOT failures!
Carry on.
LOL – I love your take on blogging. Now that you mention it, I’ve used my blog to remember things too, it’s quite shocking when it was longer ago than I remember. You’re right, it is fun to write and fun to share photos that both get better with time. Thank you for sharing and for your encouragement.
Your blog has always been wonderful to read, Shelley. Your thought and photos are a treat. 🥰
Thank you, John, I appreciate your encouragement and I enjoy watching the photos you share – that makes me want to get out and take more photos!
First of all, that last photo really touched me – if that’s possible with a photo. The mood of it. Your macros have always inspired me 🙂
SO – random thought: There are no rules in blogging (that’s what I like to think) – it can be an exercise in self discovery, as in discovering what internal rules are still at work left over from years at school doing assignments or at work…doing assignments. Above all I try to remind myself it is supposed to be fun after all. About that tick – are you concerned about Lyme disease? I was bitten by a tick last November (and, yes, even wrote a post about it)…and, as we used to say, Gross Me Out. Thank goodness I didn’t find it in bed. That would have been a total freak out.
Thank you – I’m glad the photo touched you. I do think photos can do that. I like catching the macro shots of those flowers in the afternoon when the fence partially filters the sun.
Great point about blogging being a self-discovery. It is supposed to be fun, and for the most part it is. I do think it will be easier when I’m not juggling it with working full-time too. But, that’s years from now, thus my conundrum feelings.
I’m sorry to hear about your experience with Lyme’s. I hope you were able to get antibiotics and recover quickly. My dad has been bitten and treated for Lyme’s too. I guess in the back of my mind I worry about Lyme’s, but I’ve also read that if the tick is removed quickly after biting and you clean the wound it likely won’t turn into it? I could be wrong. I did clean the wound with rubbing alcohol and the tiny wound where the skin ripped off has healed into a nice scab, no ring around it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it is fine. Yeah, in the bed did gross me out. I hate it when a spider crawls across me too. Creepy. UGH. Enough of that talk!
Yes I love the afternoon light – it never disappoints! I was okay after the tick bite – I think because I took doxycycline for a period of time afterwards just in case. I had the tick tested and it was positive for Lyme, so I was taking no chances.
I never even considered blogging before I retired, so kudos to you for this very nicely done multi-tasking!
Andrea – I found your comment in my trash folder – WTH WP?! You were wise to take doxycycline since you knew the tick was positive for Lymes. I was going to save it in a jar just in case but Mr. threw it away before I could. Working FT and doing part-time blogging both have ups and downs to deal with. We’ll see if blogging remains a hobby I keep when I get around to retiring in 10 years ;-)!
Thanks for the comment rescue! Hopefully you won’t have a “next time” for saving a tick (yuck!). If I’m still blogging in ten years, I hope to see you there as well 🙂
You’re welcome. I shake my head when I try to figure out WP’s routing of comments to trash or spam. Sometimes they’re legit, but other times, I just don’t get it.
If I’m still blogging then I hope you’re there too! (PS – I actually have been blogging for 8 years, so ten is doable and comes up faster than I imagined it would!).
WP really makes no sense sometimes. And I hope we’ll both still be here too 🙂
Wow … that’s a lot in a short space. Nothing like a questionable drink that looks to have the consistency of mud. But, so does a milkshake … Thanks for sharing Ms Shelley. As always I learned something new, laughed and closed with a scratching of my head. Can’t beat that all in one blog post. g
Aw, shucks, thanks g – I appreciate your feedback. I always smile after reading your words of wisdom! PS – the drink is smooth and creamy and savory in a warm cup that I hold while I read the lovely comments from my devoted fans. 🙂 It’s hard to beat, that’s for sure!
I always enjoy your posts, random or not! I’ve never posted on a schedule. I take the occasional hiatus, like while away from my writing desk–and I haven’t noticed readers jumping ship. I don’t know about you, but I’m always happy to read friends’ posts, but I certainly don’t set my clock or calendar by them. Also, with your photos (and hopefully my interviews and reviews) there’s enough “evergreen” material on blogs that it doesn’t matter when a reader comes to it–it’s always timely and interesting. Keep doing what you’re doing, your way. There certainly are those who aspire to be professional bloggers–and they have their own sets of rules. But you have a successful blog if it makes you happy!
Thank you, Rebecca. As always, your thoughts touch me and make me pause to say, “Yeah, Rebecca is right!” I so appreciate your continued support, it truly warms my heart!
And you are right again, there is always an evergreen take on things. One thing I try to keep in mind is that if it means enough for me to sit down and write a post, that means there will be someone else, somewhere that will relate to it somehow … hmm … sounds like the beginning of a blog post titled: Somehow, Somewhere, Someone Will Find This Post. 😉
Wow, a tick in the house, in my bed! I’d be concerned. Great pictures. I think you are doing a great job with the personal blogging business.
LOL – Yeah, the tick was one heck of a surprise. Guess Copper’s tick treatment works. Thank you for your feedback, Janet, I’m so happy we found each other here in the Blogosphere! You’re doing great with your blog – I’m impressed that you can maintain two platforms – WP and Blogger!
How do you define *successful*? If you’re still showing up here, then I’d say you’re successful. For me it’s all in the keeping on with it, not in the numbers or planning of it. Whatever works, works. Trite, but true.
Ally, that’s a good question followed up with excellent advice, thank you. It is all in the keeping on with it. I admire how you educate your readers in advance when you’re going to take a break and how you pop back in when you’re ready with a creative post that triggers lots of feedback. That’s one of the definitions of a successful blog to me. 🙂
Thank you. One of the earliest lessons I learned about blogging was quite simply: tell people what you’re doing. Both in the sense of what you write about and in the sense of your posting plan. I don’t know who impressed that idea on me, but I owe a big thanks to that blogger. She helped shape me into the Ally Bean of today.
You’re welcome. You are gifted at noticing and remembering things that make yourself and the world a better place, including blogging. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us!
I love your blog and wish I could keep up with reading every bloggers posts. Too many great bloggers too little time is all I can say 🤗🙋♀️🐝
Thank you, Bee – I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. I agree, there are so many great blogs to read and so little time. PS – I rescued your comment from the Spam folder again. 🙁
Thanks 👍 I really need to contact WP 🙋♀️🐝
I hope they can help … your comment went to Spam again 🙁
“And when I think, “Just write something fun or something sweet or kind”, I shame myself into thinking, “That’s wrong, you can’t be sharing happy sh*t when the world says we should be scared and unhappy, ‘cuz the virus is lurking in the background.””
Who says you can’t share happy sh*t? Since when does “the world” have a say in what you write here? What right does the world have to tell you how you should feel? Who went on vacation and left them in charge?
I have a suggestion: quit watching the news on TV. See if suddenly you don’t feel scared and unhappy anymore. And write all the happy stuff you want. Screw them if they can’t take a joke.
And Ally’s right: As Woody Allen said, 90% of success is showing up. And you do.
Excellent advice! Well said, John, well said! And you’re right, I do feel much better when I don’t watch any news. You, Ally, Woody, and all the other commenters have set me on a better thought process about ‘success’, thank you for showing up here in the blogosphere, I appreciate it!
Random is good! I think when bloggers put themselves on a crazy schedule their writing suffers. Just write when you want and/or have something to say. Every day, or even several times a week, is too much for most bloggers or readers. Oh, and writing about something other than the current turmoils is a relief to many of us. Now, about that drink… what is it and, most important, why?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Janis. I’m warming up to the random schedule more and more the longer I’ve been blogging.
Ah, yes, the drink – thanks for asking. It’s my morning coffee drink. Cameron’s Jamaican blend coffee, with MCT Oil Powder makes it creamy and provides energy and is good for the brain; the collagen is for skin and bone health, the No-Salt for potassium and iodine, and the garlic powder is for healthy blood pressure. Plus the garlic powder covers up coffee breath LOL! 😉
Your flowers are awesome! And cats are hilarious! I moved a box over to a more visible spot in our living area, and now that is one of her favorite places! I think she likes it because she can see US better!
And on the blogging thing. I started out with a specific purpose, oh yeah I had great plans. Then I discovered, just be me and share what’s on my heart or on my mind…with fun photos. Love your post! 😊😎
Thank you, Lisa. Yes, indeed, cats love boxes and the better they can spy on hoomans from them, the more they like them. I’m like you, I had a purpose, but then found out my heart wanted to be random and I love to play with photos too. I love your heart-felt and fun photo posts, your words of wisdom and macro photos inspire me to grab my camera and write about what’s on my mind! Happy blogging to you!!
Thank you Shelley! Blogging is a helpful outlet right now! Give your kitty a hug from me 🤗
You’re welcome. Indeed it is. Will do :-)!!
That tick experience must have been horrible! At night! I’m sorry. I hate being surprised at night, and by something like a tick..
About blogging, I think that our blog changes and grows as we grow and change. Blogging is change, since we, like you said, constantly meet and chat with new people. Some friends stay, some friends go, and we grow. I do believe that blogging friendships can be very real though. Best of luck as you continue on this journey.
Thank you, Marie, I appreciate your words of encouragement. The tick bite and not getting back to sleep after the tick burning excursion is the lingering factor … I was already a light sleeper and now everytickle makes me wonder if its another tick.
I agree with you on your blogging thoughts -blogging is about changing things up as you go. The real blogging friends that stick around are extra special that’s for sure! Best of luck to you too. You’ve demonstrated to me success – being able to start a blog in one country, move to another, and keep on keeping on. Impressive!
Thank you!
Look here woman I enjoy your yadda yadda fabulous photos and my connection to your life way over there. I am now having to wait for a longer while before you get here so we can party. I don’t have many ticks so that’s a plus.
Keep going. I am not sure how long we have been connected but it’s been fun 😀🤗❤
Aw, thanks, Brian – ditto to you. I enjoy visiting Australia virtually through your clever and inviting blog posts. I also appreciate your encouraging comments here on my blog. Plus you keep sharing with me the most excellent reasons I should visit there someday! Wait … what does not many ticks mean … do you have some wild version of them? Do they come out at night and bite visitors from other countries?
You keep going too – I agree, I’m not sure how long it has been since we found each others blogs, but it has been fun and I look forward to each and every comment we share here and on your blog too! 🙂
I’ll get back on this one. Too late and tired of 😀
I hope you slept well!
Oh I have found it hard too . Because all the events are shut down I cant go to them or write about them. So I have wrote about other things every day living. And subjects I promised to talk about on the introduction page. But it is getting harder. Perhaps I ought to write my first trip to Costa in 3 months 🤗
Writing when you’re not sure what to write is good practice for getting through tough situations. Yes, write about that – you’ll find that your experience is similar to and different from others which is fun for the readers to read about too.
I will put it on my to do list along with the trip to the hairdressers lol. I am trying to do odd ones now and again. By the way loving the photos on your blogs. I think we will get through this by supporting and sharing our thoughts and stories. Stay safe Xxx
Yes, that would be a good trip to write about. I heard that going to the dentist is weird now too – they make you rinse with hydrogen peroxide before they start cleaning your teeth. Thank you for the kudos on the photos. I agree supporting and sharing is a good thing – we’ll make it through this together! Stay safe and well xx